Several members of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team have been named to preseason watch lists in the past few weeks.
Senior center Angelo Mangiro, who started each game and controlled a young, inexperienced offense at Penn State last year, was added to the Rimington Trophy Watch List on Wednesday. Over the course of the 2014 season, Mangiro played at least three different positions, offering a versatility that James Franklin desperately needed.
The Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s Most Outstanding Center each year, finds its namesake in two-time Outland Trophy winner Dave Rimington of Nebraska and has raised more than $2.6 million for cystic fibrosis and is managed by the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
Senior tight end Kyle Carter was added to the Mackey Award Preseason Watch List for the second year in a row this week. After a stellar 2014 campaign that was punctuated by the touchdown reception that led to Sam Ficken’s walk-off extra point kick in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Carter’s skill and experience will be pivotal as Franklin continues to mold the Lions.
The Mackey Award is presented annually to the nation’s Most Outstanding Tight End in FBS college football. Established in 2000, the award seeks to honor college tight ends that exemplify academics, sportsmanship, and community.
To add to Penn State’s growing watchlist presence, earlier this week, junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg and sophomore wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton were listed as candidates for the Maxwell Award for National Player of the Year, while senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel Bednarik Award for the National Defensive Player of the Year.
Stay tuned to Pittsburgh Sporting News for updates about the players’ status.
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